Thailand Voice

The Thai government over the past few years have been so focussed on first the yellow shirts and then the red shirts that hardly anyone has noticed the rampant increase of drug use in Thailand. It is almost getting to epidemic proportions …

Even for those who have never stepped a foot in the Land of Noodle Soup & Nose Jobs, chances are they’ve heard some classic Thailand myth worthy of an editorial column in the most sensational European tabloid. So worthy actually, …

It is that time of year again when we do a quick review of the past year. Today I am going to look back at some of the more popular news photos from Thailand on our sister blog www.thaiphotoblogs.com . One of the most popular pictures…

One of the most spectacular cultural shows in Bangkok is undoubtedly at Siam Niramit: Journey to the Enchanted Kingdom of Siam. So many people had been talking about it on the Paknam Web Forums that I thought that I should make an…

I moved to Chiang Mai the day before loy krathong four years ago – I always think of this holiday as my anniversary. Chiang Mai is famous for going way over the top with parades and holidays, loy krathong probably being second only to the week-long songkran festivities…

One of my favourite festivals in Thailand is undoubtedly Luang Phor Pan Worshipping Festival in Bang Bo District of Samut Prakan. I went last year for the first time and had no idea what to expect. There were so many surprises that…

People are already planning their holidays in Thailand for 2010 and so we thought we would help out by letting you know the dates of the main events and holidays. I know so many people keep asking “When is Loy Krathong…

The annual Temple Fair in Samut Prakan kicked off early this morning with the parade through town. The fair at Phra Samut Chedi has been going on now for 182 years which I believe makes it the longest running temple fair in Thailand. Certainly one of the oldest. In the olden days, people would come…

The Ministry of Culture has planned many cultural activities to promote Thai culture and stimulate confidence in Thailand among international tourists and investors. Culture Minister Teera Slukpetch said that Thailand, in the eyes of in the world community, is a land of peace and that Thai people are generous and apply…

This morning I visited Ancient Siam (formerly Ancient City) in Samut Prakan for their annual Mother’s Day activity. Over the last four or five years, the management have been organizing many different kinds of events at the park during all major holidays. Today is a public holiday for H.M. The Queen’s birthday…

Well, just a short while back I decided on the spur of the moment to pack our bags and get a short flight to somewhere…… and that somewhere was to be Penang Island in Malaysia. The wife, Su, and I went to Hong Kong over the Songkran holidays in April, …

I have to admit I am not a very diligent traveller: I don’t dive very deep into my guidebooks. I usually enjoy ancient monuments, temples, ruins and other buildings for their atmosphere and architectural beauty, not for the tales from olden days that they tell to an eager listener. I cannot imagine what life must…

There have been a few stories that the government may not last that much longer – see this previous post . Now, The Nation : As relations with allies get worse, Abhisit might be compelled to form a minority government Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva might be forced to run a minority government if the bad blood between his… Read full story >>>

Thai Takes By PHILIP GOLINGAI WHENEVER Keigo Sato, a nine-year-old Thai, saw Japanese tourists at Wat Tha Luang, a riverside temple in Phichit, about 345km north of Bangkok, he would ask them “Do you know my father?” And the boy would show them a faded photograph… Read full story >>>

Last month, Bowornsak Uwanno had a 3 part article defending lese majeste law in the Bangkok Post ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) – the Thai language version was in Matichon and dutifully reprinted by the men in green. BP had planned a long reply, but well then a day or so later the red shirts … Read full story >>>

The Bangkok Post : The fact finding committee into the political violence in April on Monday summoned Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban to explain the incidents surrounding the crackdown on red-shirt supporters of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD)by military and police forces. Mr … Read full story >>>

Thanong speculated recently on how long the government would last saying it might not last longer than August or October. As BP blogged at the time, this was a possibility, but it seems to be the advantage of all parties to… Read full story >>>

You heard it. We were looking forward to the Phuket Film Festival under the directorate of Scott Rosenberg who was kind and willing enough to write this exclusive report for us. Scott cancelled the fest 15 minutes too early … And you think the title … Read full story >>>

The Bangkok Post in an editorial : The National Telecommunications Commission usually flies under the radar of public awareness. But when the group comes out with a ruling, it is often a noteworthy declaration. The request on Wednesday for permission to govern the… Read full story >>>

     The people of Phana love parades. They love taking part in parades. Often there are very few people around to see a parade because so many of them are part of it.        The rain doesn't deter them; this parade (above) was at Songkran, and they walked 2 kms in the… Read full story >>>

As I mentioned in an earlier post I was lucky enough to spend the Thai New Year, known as Songkran, in 4 different provinces. I spent the first day of Songkran in Pattaya on soi Diana playing with all the bar girls and the subsequent days I spent in Mukdahan, That Phanom and … Read full story >>>

Have been a bit busy so am trying to catch up on a number of different topics to blog on. Last week, Thanong opined on how long Abhisit will last. Key excerpt: Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva might not last beyond August or October this year as political pressure surrounding his government has intensified… Read full story >>>

A security clampdown ahead of a regional government summit and conflicting dates with another film festival may cause this year’s Phuket Film Festival to be canceled, according to a citizens group calling itself “We Care About Phuket”. The Phuket Film Festival is scheduled … Read full story >>>

Abhisit’s nightmares: If anyone in Thailand would wish away the ugly political events of 4/09, it would be the prime minister himself. Barely three months in the office, PM Abhisit had to go through the worst imaginable political crisis. On 7/4/09, he was ambushed and his car … Read full story >>>

Taxi drivers say they have been hit by the political divisiveness that has affected the whole country too. Passengers have recently complained that they couldn’t discuss politics with cab-drivers without getting into an argument. Some Bangkokians have decided to avoid taxis altogether because… Read full story >>>

Thai Takes By PHILIP GOLINGAI THE Yellows seized two international airports in Bangkok. The Reds scuppered the Asean Summit in Pattaya. Guess what’s the latest colour to trouble Thailand, the land of colour-coded political allegiance? “The turmoil we witnessed… Read full story >>>

Visakha Bucha Day is the most important day in the Buddhist calendar. It marks the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha which all happened on the full moon of the sixth lunar month. All around Thailand, Buddhists will be going to their …

The Nation : Our prime minister – whose credentials, track record and integrity would make decent citizens of any country proud to have him as their leader – has been in constant battles politically and economically. He has taken an unrelenting beating from the … Read full story >>>

THAI TAKES By PHILIP GOLINGAI IN POLITICALLY polarised Thailand, it is easier to find a tank on the streets of Bangkok than a Thai who is able to give a neutral take on what’s happening to his country. So I tracked down Paul Quaglia, a Bangkok-… Read full story >>>

The Thai Hotels Association (THA) recently reported that average occupancy of Bangkok hotels was around 30% and as low as 5-10% at some properties after the red-shirt political riots during the Songkran festival. … Read full story >>>